Phats & Small

Recognized for their multi-million selling, Brit-nominated, and award-winning contributions to house music, Phats & Small, composed of Jason ‘Phats’ Hayward and Russell Small, achieved international recognition with their 1999 single ‘Turn Around.’ The track, which notably utilized samples from Toney Lee’s ‘Reach Up’ and Change’s ‘The Glow of Love,’ debuted at number three on the UK Singles Chart before climbing to number two, becoming a significant hit for the duo. Following their initial breakthrough, Phats & Small continued to produce and perform, expanding their musical repertoire. Ben Ofoedu, who gained visibility in the ‘Turn Around’ video, contributed vocals to subsequent singles such as ‘Feel Good’ and ‘Tonite.’ The duo also demonstrated their versatility through notable remixing efforts in 1999, working on Earth, Wind & Fire’s classic ‘September’ and Simply Red’s ‘Ain’t That a Lot of Love.’ In 2001, they released their second album, ‘This Time Around,’ which featured Tony Thompson as the main vocalist and included singles like the title track ‘This Time Around’ and ‘Change.’ Phats & Small returned in 2005 with their third album, ‘Soundtrack to Our Lives,’ which introduced new vocalist Ryan Molloy, alongside a returning Ben Ofoedu and new collaborator Carrie Luer on tracks such as ‘Sun Comes Out.’ Concurrently, Russell Small co-founded The Freemasons, a highly successful production team that went on to achieve numerous UK Top 20 hits and earn a Grammy Award nomination. Continuing to engage their fanbase and contribute to the music landscape, Phats & Small released a new rendition of their seminal track ‘Turn Around’ in 2016, featuring fresh vocals from Ben Ofoedu. This release marked a continuation of their musical output and ongoing engagements. Phats & Small maintain their legacy as innovative producers and performers whose work continues to resonate within the global house music community.